Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Reef CI Annual Report
2014
Reef CI
Research Station
Tom Owen’s Caye
Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve
Belize C.A.
Submitted By: Jason Guy – Marine Biologist, Reef CI
Reviewed By: Polly Alford – Executive Director – Reef CI
Submitted To: Belize Fisheries Department
1 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Table of Contents:
1. Introduction:
a. Reef Conservation International
b. Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR)
2. Research/Monitoring Graphs and Results
a. Invasive Lion Fish
b. Reef CI Check
c. Queen Conch
d. Caribbean Spiny Lobster
e. Commercial Specie – Fin Fish
3. Research/Monitoring Methodologies:
1. Invasive Lionfish
2. Reef CI Check Monitoring
a. Fish Component
b. Invertebrate Component
c. Substrate Component
d. Coral Impact Component
3. Queen Conch/Caribbean Spiny Lobster
4. Spawning Aggregation (SPAG)
5. Coral Watch
6. PADI Project Aware – Whale Shark
7. Commercial Specie – Fin Fish
8. Marine Turtle
9. Financial Report (Park fees)
10. Staff
11. Conclusion
2 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 INTRODUCTION:
Reef Conservation International:
Reef CI is a Not for Profit registered Non-Governmental Organization that focuses its primary
objectives of marine conservation along the most southern terminus of the Belize Barrier Reef
System. It has been actively working with citizen scientists, both local and international, in the
collection of biophysical data within and outside the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve for the past
decade.
Reef CI was established by Mrs. Polly Alford and all our programs that Reef CI carries out are
done thru self-sustainability. Over the past decade, our monitoring has included consistent data
collection of key commercial species (Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Queen Conch, and certain Fin
Fish species), Benthic Cover and Coral Reef health and mortality within the SCMR.
The newest program added to our list of data collection is the invasive lionfish. Since its first
sighting in 2008, Reef CI has been proactive in culling as much lionfish on any given dive within
the SCMR. Moreover, it is with all fairness that we commend ourselves for being the only
conservationist group in southern Belize who are actively culling lion fish and collecting data
from this invasive species.
For this reporting period, our volunteers have extracted seven thousand and eighty four (7084)
lionfishes. Of that, five hundred and seventy four (574) lionfishes were measured and dissected
for its gender, egg phase and stomach content. These data are shared on the social media and
stake holders of the SCMR on a quarterly basis. Such awareness have gained the popular phrase
of “Kill them, Dissect them, Eat them, Wear them” whenever one hears about Reef CI and its
lionfish program. As aforementioned, this catchy phrase refers to culling the lionfish then going
thru the data collection of certain parameters. Furthermore, each lionfish is filleted to promote
its tasty properties to volunteers and to local resorts/restaurants in the Toledo district. Recently,
Reef CI has launched its Belize Lionfish Jewelry program where local female artisans are being
trained to enhance their jewelry making capabilities in using the fins and spine of this invasive
species.
Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR):
The Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR) is located at the southern terminus of the Belize
Barrier Reef System. It is situated some seventy five kilometers (75km) East off the coast of
Punta Gorda Town, within the Gulf of Honduras.
The Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR) was officially declared a Marine Reserve in
August of 1996 and was designated as one of the seven (7) Marine Protected Areas (MPA) that
forms the Belize’s World Heritage Site. The Belize Fisheries Department is responsible for the
day-to-day management of the SCMR.
Furthermore, the SCMR is zoned off into three zones and are demarcated to show the different
zone types. Around Northeast Sapodilla Cayes, is the Preservation Zone which is designated for
scientific research and has to be granted permission by the Fisheries Administrator. The
Conservation Zone area is demarcated around the majority of the cayes within the SCMR which
includes: Ragged Caye, Hunting Caye, Lime Caye, Nicholas Caye, Franks Caye and Seals Caye.
The Conservation Zone is designated as a ‘no take’ area and is used only for recreational
3 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 purposes. The remaining percentage (largest area) is called the General Use Zone. This area is
for all purposes providing all Fisheries Regulations are being adhered to.
RESEARCH/MONITORING GRAPHS & RESULTS:
Lionfish:
Over the course of the year 2014, Reef CI speared a total of 7084 lionfishes. Of that 7084, the
stomach contents of 574 lionfish collected from known dive sites around Tom Owens Caye,
were analyzed and recorded. The stomachs were carefully removed and cut open using a small
pair of scissors or blade and all contents were carefully removed, analyzed and identified, before
being recorded as ‘fish’, ‘shrimp’, ‘crab’, ‘other’, ‘digested (where contents could not be visually
identified, or ‘empty’). Some of the sampled lionfishes were found to have contents from
multiple categories, where they most commonly contained both fish and shrimp. Graph 1 below
illustrates the overall findings, where shrimps were the most common stomach content, being
found in just over 40% of all lionfishes analyzed. The next highest occurrence was empty
stomachs, at almost 36%, followed by those with fish at slightly over 25% and only about 4%
were found to contain evidence of crab. Few lionfishes were found to have other organisms in its
stomachs besides fish, shrimp, or crab, at only 1.74%, but it is possible that a portion of the
approximately 5% that had digested matter, contained organisms that were too difficult to
identify with the naked eye. Algae, mollusks, squid, and octopus, were found in the stomachs of
some lionfishes and are recorded as ‘other’.
4 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Lionfish Stomach Content Percentages
45
40.24 %
Percent of t otal (574) lionfish sampled
40
35.71 %
35
30
25.44 %
25
20
15
12.02 %
10
5.57 %
4.36 %
5
1.74 %
0
Fish
Shrimp
Crab
Other
Multiple
Contents
Digested
Empty
Stomach content Graph 1illustrates Percentage of total number of lionfish sampled (n = 574) that were found to
have fish, shrimp, crab and/or other organisms in the stomach; as well as those individuals
with stomachs that contained digested matter or were empty.
Stomach contents as divided by sex (Graph 2), revealed a larger proportion of females found to
have consumed shrimp, at just over 50% for females, compared to just over 30% for males. A
slightly higher percentage of males than females were found to have empty stomachs or fish in
their stomachs. About 40% of males had empty stomachs, compared with just over 30% of
females; and about 30% of males were found to have consumed fish, compared with only 20% of
females. Similar proportions of both male and female were found to have crabs or other
organisms in their stomachs as well as unidentifiable digested matter.
5 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Stomach Contents as a Percent by Sex
Percentage of total sample for each sex
60
50
40
female
30
male
20
10
0
fish
shrimp
crab
other
Stomach c ontent
digested
empty
Figure 2: Lionfish stomach content percentages compared by sex. For females n = 231, for
males n = 343.
Stomach contents analyzed for each sex and for different body lengths (Graph 3) appeared to
show results fairly consistent with overall stomach content percentages. Greater proportions of
smaller sized females and males seemed to have consumed shrimp; but considering, for example,
that only 32 lionfish measuring 10-15 cm were collected, versus 232 individuals for 20-25 cm,
the results could potentially average out. Graph 4 reveals that by far the greatest proportion of
15-20 cm lionfishes sampled happened to be female and conversely, the greatest proportion of
20-25 cm lionfish collected was clearly male. Thus, female lionfish measuring 15-20 cm were
the largest consumers of shrimp, and larger males measuring 20-30 cm made up the greatest
proportion of empty stomachs. Some of the results of Graph 3 could be misleading, for example,
female lionfish in the 20-25 cm range appear to have a large portion of their diet made up of
crab, but the sample size of female fish in that range was small; the few fish sampled happened
to have crab in their stomachs, but the percent values in these cases are not really significant. The
most valid point to take away would be that lionfish of both sexes appear to have varied diets and
feeding habits through a range of sizes.
6 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Percentage of total sample for each body length
60
Stomach Contents as a Percent by Body Length
50
40
Fish
30
Shrimp
Crab
20
Other
Digested
10
Empty
0
f
m
f
10-‐1 5 m
f
15-‐2 0 m
f
m
20-‐2 5 25-‐3 0 Lionfish body length (cm)
Grapg 3: Percentage of lionfish sampled of a given body length (cm) found to have fish,
shrimp, crab and/or other organisms in the stomach; as well as those individuals with
stomachs that contained digested matter or were empty. For the 10–15 cm category, n = 32;
for 15-20 cm, n = 223; for 20-25 cm, n= 232; for 25-30 cm, n = 83. Body length was measured
laterally from the tip of a closed mouth to the end of the caudal peduncle where the tail fin ray
starts.
Body Length by Sex
250
Total Lionfish
200
192
180
150
100
81
43
50
1
9
m
f
23
40
3
2
0
0-‐1 0
m
10-‐1 5
f
m
15-‐2 0
Lionfish Body Length (cm)
f
m
20-‐2 5
f
m
25-‐3 0
m
30-‐3 5
Graph 4: Total numbers of each sex for different body length categories. Note that females
dominated the 15-20 cm length range, while males dominated the 20-25 cm range.
7 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 The dive sites lionfish were collected from ranged from only a few meters to over 25 meters. The
substrate was mostly coral reef with sandy patches located between coral furrows. Lionfish were
widespread and often clustered in groups. They were most noticeable around vertical
outcropping structures on the reef like large purple barrel sponges or hard coral stacks. Graph 5
shows the stomach content percentages for several well-known and frequented dive sites. Again,
shrimp was encountered in the greatest percentage of lionfish collected from each site, except
from Tom Owens Caye itself, where fish made up the highest proportion. Tom Owens is the only
dive site accessed from shore.
Percentage of total lsample for each divesite
90
Stomach Contents as a Percentage per Divesite
80
70
60
50
40
Fish
Shrimp
Crab
30
Other
20
Digested
10
Empty
Aq
u
ar
iu
m
Be
n'
s D
ef
ea
t
Bl
ac
kf
in
Bl
in
d Al
Bl
ley
ue
R
un
ni
ng
s
Bo
ne
ya
rd
Ch
ub
by
Ch
Do
ub
g
by
D
og
Ea
N
gl
.
Fi
e'
sh
s K
er
ill
m
i
ng
an
' s De
lig
ht
Gr
oo
vy
Ho
ne
ym
Ja
oo
ke
n
' s At
tit
ud
e
Lo
bs
te
r P
ot
Sa
nd
y B
om
b
Sh
ar
k Ba
sin
To
m
O
w
en
s
0
Graph 5: Stomach content percentages of fish, shrimp, crab, and other organisms, digested
and empty; for lionfish sampled (n = 513) from several frequently dived sites around Tom
Owens Caye.
Graph 6 provides a breakdown of the stomach contents from lionfish collected by month. The
cooler months appeared to have slightly higher percentages of male lionfish with empty
stomachs, and fish were the highest stomach content proportion to the summer months. Females
seemed to have shrimp as the greatest proportion of their stomach contents throughout the year.
However, inconsistencies in numbers of lionfish collected for each month could result in
misleading information and skewing of the data. Sample sizes ranged from only 22 individuals to
124, and so some of the percentages may seem higher because only a few lionfish were sampled.
More consistent sample sizes would certainly provide more significant results, but the graph
generated with the data obtained still provides a general idea of the seasonal feeding patterns of
lionfish. Overall, the findings are still fairly consistent with the above analysis of stomach
8 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 contents using different criteria (dive site, body length, sex), in that shrimp and fish are shown to
be the main food sources year round in this region.
Percentage of total lionfish sample for each month
90
Stomach Contents as a Percentage per Month
80
70
60
50
Fish
Shrimp
40
Crab
Other
30
Digested
Empty
20
10
0
f
m
Jan
f
m
Feb
f
m
Mar
f
m
Apr
f
m
May
Month
f
m
Jun
f
m
Jul
f
m
Aug
f
m
Sep
f & m
Total
Graph 6: Stomach content percentages of fish, shrimp, crab, other organisms, digested and
empty; for lionfish sampled (n = 570) in each month of the year 2014 (excluding October,
November and December); and separated by sex. Also, for comparison, including the total
percentage for each stomach content criteria, for all months, where female and male were
combined. 9 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 A total of 16 sites in and around SCMR were removal sites for the invasive lionfish.
Total length (cm) of lionﬁsh across all sites within Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve 2014 50 40 30 20 10 0 1 17 33 49 65 81 97 113 129 145 161 177 193 209 225 241 257 273 289 305 321 337 353 369 385 401 417 433 449 465 481 497 513 Total Length (cm) 60 Number of Lionﬁsh Graph 7 illustrates mean total length of all lionfish removed at all sites in 2014.
Mean total length of lionfish throughout the sites ranged from 24.2 cm to 29.8 cm. Mean total
length of lionfish extracted and sampled was 26.4 cm as shown in the graph above.
Number of lionﬁish Total number of lionﬁsh sampled per site in SCMR 2014 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Site Graph 8 illustrates total number of lionfish sampled per site in SCMR 2014.
10 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 The most lionfish sampled was from site Eagles killing. A total of 69 lionfish was sampled
followed by site Lobster Pot with 61 lionfish sampled.
Number of Fish Number of male and female lionﬁsh sampled from sites within SCMR 2014 50 40 30 20 10 0 Site Male Female Graph 9 illustrates male and female lionfish sampled from all sites in 2014.
A total of 309 male lionfish and 207 female lionfish were sampled from 16 sites in SCMR. Site
Eagles Killing had the most lionfish sampled with a total of 40 male and 29 female lionfish.
Discussion:
As part of the lionfish eradication campaign, a total of 574 lionfish were dissected from SCMR
in this 2014 reporting period. This is a great increase in comparison to 2013 where 337 lionfish
were sampled. Efforts to remove lionfish during dives were done by Reef CI staff, guests, and
volunteers. On average, the total length of lionfish sampled was 26.4 cm in 2014. In 2013, the
mean average length of lionfish removed was 28.6 cm, a difference of a few centimeters. It can
be noted that at all sites lionfish was present with half of the sites more than 20 lionfish were
removed per area.
After conducting stomach content on 574 samplings, it was noted that the content was a
combination of fish, shrimp, crab, and octopus. Fish species included file fish and squirrel fish.
It was noted that squirrel fish measured between 10cm to 13 cm. Mantis shrimp was also
observed in the stomach of lionfish.
The findings from this lionfish stomach content analysis provide some insight into lionfish
feeding patterns along the southern Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, but as far as revealing
11 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 significant trends, considerably more research is needed. Further study is necessary to answer
many questions generated by the above analysis. Some of particular interests are:
Is there a correlation between shrimp/small fish abundances and lionfish abundances at particular
dive sites?
Are lionfish with empty stomachs found more frequently in dive sites with higher lionfish
abundances? As in, are lionfish depleting food sources in certain areas of the reef?
Do feeding habits actually vary seasonally?
What is the primary food source of juvenile lionfish?
Do female lionfish feed at higher rates prior to developing eggs? Do their feeding patterns
change after they develop eggs?
Continued analysis of stomach content from lionfish invading the southern Mesoamerican
Barrier Reef can be beneficial for managing lionfish populations and their impacts on the
ecology of local coral reef systems.
Finally, Reef CI will continue to cull as much lionfish as possible during the year 2015. As we
say it, “Kill them, Eat them, Dissect them and Wear them”. The ‘kill’ signify constant culling
that Reef CI does on a daily basis. The ‘eat’ signify the tasty white fillet that is taken from the
lionfish and prepared in so many ways. The ‘dissect’ signify the collection of certain parameters
of the lionfish which is then analyzed and submitted to the Belize Fisheries Department. Finally,
the ‘wear’ signifies the spines that are dried and donated to local artisans (women’s group) in
Punta Gorda Town to make jewelries from them and sold as gift items.
12 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Reef Check:
Reef Check fish and invertebrates:
Mean Fish Abundance For Fire Garden Site, SCMR 2014 14
Mean Abundance of Fish
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Butterflyfish
Haemulidae
Snapper
Nassau
grouper
Grouper
Parrotfish
Moray eel
Fish Species
Graph 1 illustrating mean fish abundance of Reef Check for site Fire Garden.
At site Fire Garden, the most abundant fish observed was parrotfish with a mean abundance of 6.
Haemulidae (Grunt) was the second most abundant, followed by Butterfly fish and Snapper.
Mean Abundance Of Invertebrates For Site Fire Garden, SCMR 2014
Mean Abundance +- SE
4
3
2
1
0
Graph 2 illustrates mean abundance of invertebrates at site Fire Garden.
13 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 It can be noted that at site Fire Garden, Diadema was the most abundant invertebrate with a mean
abundance of 2.6 followed by pencil urchin, lobster and banded shrimp respectively.
Mean Fish Abundance For Site Tom Owens, SCMR 2014 14
Mean Abundance +- SE
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Butterflyfish Haemulidae
Snapper
Nassau
grouper
Grouper
Parrotfish
Moray eel
Graph 3 illustrates mean fish abundance of Reef Check for site Tom Owens.
At site Tom Owens, it was observed that the most abundant fish was parrotfish with a mean
abundance of 8 followed by haemulidae with a mean abundance of 6. Butterfly fish had a mean
abundance of 4. There was a low presence of snapper and grouper at this site.
14 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Mean Abundance Of Invertebrates For Site Tom Owens, SCMR 2014
Mean Abundance +- SE
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Graph 4 illustrating the mean abundance of invertebrates for Site Tom Owens.
Site Tom Owens did not only have a high abundance of parrotfish but also a high abundance of
Diadema. Mean Diadema abundance at this site was 6. There was the presence of Flamingo
Tongue with a mean abundance of 3 and a mean abundance of Pencil Urchin of 1.3.
Substrates for Reef Check at sites Fire Garden and Tom Owens:
HC- Hard Coral
SC- Soft Coral
NIA- Nutrient indicator algae
SI- Silt/clay
RKC- Recently killed coral
SP- Sponge
RC- Rock
SD- Sand
RB- Rubble
OT- Other
15 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Mean Percent Cover Of Substrate For Site Fire Garden, SCMR 2014
30%
Mean Percent Cover + - SE
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
HC
SC
RKC
NIA
SP
RC
RB
SD
SI
OT
Graph 5 illustrates mean percent cover of substrate using Reef Check for site Fire Garden.
At site Fire Garden it can be noted that hard coral was 25% while soft coral was about 15%
cover. There was an equal percentage of rubble and sand which amounted to 12% each.
Mean Percent Living Cover For Site Fire Garden, SCMR 2014
1%
4%
26%
27%
16%
HC
SC
NIA
SP
OT
Graph 6 illustrates mean percent living cover for substrate using Reef Check at site Fire
Garden.
Of the substrate types identified at site Fire Garden, 26% was live hard coral and 16% was live
soft coral.
16 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Mean Percent Cover Of Substrate For Site Tom Owens, SCMR 2014
20%
Mean Percent Cover + - SE
18%
16%
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
HC
SC
RKC
NIA
SP
RC
RB
SD
SI
OT
Graph 7 illustrates mean percent cover of substrate for site Tom Owens.
At site Secret Garden, hard coral cover was 12% while soft coral was 18%. The remaining
substrate cover amounted to 4% sponge, 6% rock, 18% rubble, 14% sand and 13% other.
Mean Percent Living Cover For Site Tom Owens, SCMR 2014
10%
13%
4%
17%
HC
SC
NIA
SP
18%
OT
Graph 8 illustrates mean percent living cover for site Tom Owens.
Of the substrate types identified at site Tom Owens, 13% was live hard coral and 18% was live
soft coral.
17 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Discussion:
In 2014, Parrotfish has been one of the most abundant fish species along with haemulidae
(Grunts) at sites Fire Garden and Tom Owens using Reef Check protocols. Site Tom Owens had
the highest mean abundance of Parrotfish which was 8. In addition, Tom Owens had the highest
abundance of Diadema which was 6. Although not all sites had a high abundance of fish, there
was the constant presence of Diadema throughout both sites in 2014. Both sites had presence of
Pencil Urchins and Lobsters.
In 2013, there were 3 sites monitored with the Reef Check protocol. However, in 2014, two sites
were monitored. At site Fire Garden, in the year 2013 and 2014, Parrotfish was the most
abundant species. In 2014 the mean abundance of Parrotfish increased since in 2013 the mean
abundance was 2 and in 2014 the mean abundance was 6. Even the abundance of Butterfly fish
and Grunt has increased at this site along with the presence of Diadema, Pencil Urchin and
Lobster.
In 2013, the most abundant species at site Tom Owens was Butterfly fish with a mean abundance
of 7.2. In 2014, the most abundant species at site Tom Owens was Parrotfish with a mean
abundance of 8. At both sites Grunt was equally abundant for both years. However, both sites
had a low or no abundance of fish species such as Snappers and Groupers. Nevertheless, at site
Tom Owens, there was a relatively high abundance of Diadema - an indicator of a thriving reef.
In 2014, site Fire Garden had the most live hard coral cover in comparison to site Tom Owens.
Fire Garden live hard coral cover was 25% and Tom Owens was 12%. Live soft coral cover was
higher at site Tom Owens when compared to site Fire Garden. Live soft coral cover at site Fire
Garden and site Tom Owens was 15% and 18% respectively. In 2013, site Fire Garden also had
the highest live hard coral cover. The constant live hard coral cover at site Fire Garden supports
the abundance of parrotfish found at the site. Although Tom Owens had a lower percentage of
live hard coral cover, it does support a high abundance of Parrotfish as well.
18 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Queen Conch:
Two established conch sites were monitored during 2014. Nicholas Cut and Shark Basin are
located within the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.
Number of Conch Adult and Juvenile Conch encountered at two sites in SCMR 2014 50 40 30 20 10 0 Nicholas Cut Shark Basin Site Adult Juvenile Graph 9 illustrates total conch encountered at two monitoring sites within SCMR 2014.
Adult Conch was predominantly found at both sites with Shark Basin having the most. 5 adult
Conch were observed at Nicholas Cut while 36 adults and 4 juveniles were observed at Shark
Basin. A total of 45 Conchs were encountered at both sites.
19 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 40 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 30 20 10 0 Lip Thickness (cm) Shell Length (cm) Shell length versus lip thickness of Conch for two sites in SCMR 2014 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 45 Number of Conch Shell Length (cm) Lip Thickness (cm) Graph 10 illustrates total shell length and lip thickness of conch encountered at two sites in
2014.
The total mean length of all adult conch encountered was 23.6 cm. Mean lip thickness for all
conch encountered was 1.3 cm.
Discussion:
Of the conch encountered in 2014 at the 2 sites, the majority were adult with a mean shell length
of 23.6 cm. Almost all the conchs encountered were within the legal size limit of 17.8 cm. The
conch encountered fell under the range sizes of 17 cm and 33.5cm. Mean lip thickness is1.3 cm.
The lip thicknesses of the conchs encountered were under the range sizes of 0.5cm and 2.5 cm.
When compared to 2013 data, fewer conchs were encountered at both monitoring sites in 2014.
In 2013, the mean shell length of conch encountered was 22.9 while in 2014 the mean shell
length was 23.6. In 2013, the mean lip thickness was 1.1cm while in 2014 the mean lip thickness
is 1.3cm. For both years, there has not been a substantive difference between means of shell
length and lip thickness. However, due to the limited amount of conch encountered in 2014,
comparing both years becomes difficult to do.
20 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Caribbean Spiny Lobster:
A total of 5 lobster sites were monitored during the year 2014. These sites include Lobster Pot,
Spear, Honeymoon, Blind Alley and Joy Joy.
Lobster encounter per half hour Abundance of lobsters at all sites 2014 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Lobster Pot Spear Honey Moon Blind Alley Joy Joy Site Graph 11 illustrates abundance of lobster encountered per half hour at all sites 2014.
A total of 6 lobsters were encountered per half hour at site Lobster Pot while at site Honey Moon
only 1.6 lobsters were encountered per half hour. At site Spear only 1 lobster could be
encountered per half hour while the two remaining sites the likelihood of encountering a lobster
was minimal.
21 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Number of Lobsters Male and Female Lobster encountered at all sites in SCMR 2014 20 15 10 5 0 Lobster Pot Spear Honey Moon Blind Alley Site Male Female Graph 12 illustrates male and female lobster encountered at monitoring sites in 2014.
At Lobster Pot, 16 male lobsters and 14 female lobsters were sighted. At site Spear, 1 male
lobster and 4 female lobsters were encountered. At site Honey Moon, 6 male lobsters and 2
female lobsters were encountered. At site Blind Alley, 2 male lobsters and 1 female lobster were
observed. Sexes of lobsters encountered at site Joy Joy were not determined.
Discussion:
In 2014, site Lobster Pot had the most abundant lobster with 6 lobsters encountered per hour.
However, lobster abundance for all other sites was low in 2014. On average, 2 lobsters can be
encountered at any of the sites. Mean carapace length of all lobsters measured was 10.6 cm. Of
the total lobsters encountered, 25 lobsters were male while 21 were female.
In 2013, site Blind Alley had the most observed lobsters with 3 lobsters encountered per hour. In
2014, site Lobster Pot had double the abundance of lobster in comparison to Blind Alley in 2013.
In 2013, the mean number of lobsters encountered at all sites per half hour was 1 lobster. In
2014, on average, 2 lobsters can be encountered at any of the sites. Although, there has been a
visible increase of lobster presence at some sites, on average there has not been a dramatic
increase of lobster abundance at the monitoring sites.
22 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Commercial Fin Fish
There are four main sites monitored for fin fish throughout the year. These sites include Lobster
Pot, New Site, Honey Moon and Jake Attitude.
Fin Fish Species Abundance of ﬁn ﬁsh at Lobster Pot within Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve 2014 Yellow Fin Grouper Dog Snapper Barracuda Cero Bar Jack Nassau Grouper Tiger Grouper Red Hind Black Grouper School Master Yellow Tail snapper Cubera MuUon Snapper 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 Number of Fin Fish/half hour Graph 1 illustrates abundance of fin fish at Lobster Pot 2014.
Bar Jack was the most abundant fish at site Lobster Pot followed by Black Grouper. Bar Jack
was encountered 9 times per half hour whilst Black Grouper was encounter twice per half hour.
Other species such as Nassau Grouper, Red Hind, School Master and Cubera were encountered
at least once per half hour. Fish species such as Yellow Fin Grouper, Dog Snapper, Barracuda,
Cero, Tiger Grouper, Yellowtail Snapper and Mutton Snapper were also observed but minimally.
23 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Abundance of ﬁn ﬁsh at New Site within SCMR 2014 Yellow Fin Grouper Fin Fish Species Nassau Grouper Tiger Grouper Red Hind School Master Barracuda Bar Jack 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 Number of Fish/half hour Graph 2 illustrates abundance of fin fish at New Site within SCMR 2014.
All fish species encountered at site New Site included Yellow Fin Grouper, Nassau Grouper,
Tiger Grouper, Red Hind, School Master, Barracuda, and Bar Jack. However, all fish species
were encountered in minimal quantities.
24 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Abundance of ﬁn ﬁsh at Honeymoon Site within Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve 2014 Hog Fish Black Grouper Dog Snapper Fin Fish Species Barracuda Cero Nassau Grouper Red Hind School Master Yellow Tail snapper Cubera Snapper MuUon Snapper Bar Jack 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 Encounters per half hour Graph 3 illustrates the abundance of fin fish at site Honey Moon within SCMR 2014.
At site Honey Moon the most abundant fish was the Bar Jack followed by the Black Grouper.
Bar Jack was encountered at least 6 times per half hour while Black Grouper was seen 2 times
per half hour. School Master was the third most encountered. Fish species such as Hog Fish,
Dog Snapper, Barracuda, Cero, Nassau Grouper, Red Hind, Yellow Tail Snapper, Cubera
Snapper and Mutton Snapper were observed but in minimal quantities, hence making their
abundance very low.
25 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Encounters per hour Abundance of ﬁn ﬁsh at Jake A[tude Site within Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve 2014 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 School Master Nassau Grouper MuUon Snapper Red Hind Hog Fish Fin Fish Species Graph 4 illustrates abundance of fin fish at Jake Attitude within SCMR 2014.
Fin fish species encountered at site Jake Attitude were School Master, Nassau Grouper, Mutton
Snapper, Red Hind and Hog Fish. However, these species were encountered in minimal quantity
hence a low abundance.
26 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Fin Fish Species Abundance of ﬁn ﬁsh in all sites within Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve 2014 Coney Yellowﬁn Grouper School Master Barracuda King Mackerel Mahogany Snapper Cubera Snapper MuUon Snapper Dog Snapper Black Grouper Red Hind Grouper Hogﬁsh Yellowtail Snapper Tiger Grouper Nassau Grouper Cero Bar Jack 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Number of Fin Fish per half hour Graph 5 illustrates abundance of fin fish within all sites in SCMR 2014.
Overall, the most abundant fish observed was the Bar Jack followed by Black Grouper, School
Master and Nassau Grouper. 16 Bar Jack was encountered per half hour while 4 Black Grouper
were encountered for half hour.
27 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Average size range of ﬁn ﬁsh species at all sites 2014 Hog Fish Yellow Fin Grouper Dog Snapper Fin Fish Species Barracuda Cero Bar Jack Nassau Grouper Tiger Grouper Red Hind Black Grouper School Master Yellow Tail snapper Cubera MuUon Snapper 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Number of Fin Fish 1 -‐20cm 21-‐40cm 41-‐60cm 61-‐80cm Graph 6 illustrates average size range of fin fish for all sites in 2014.
Bar Jack was the most abundant fish species where 64 Bar Jacks observed fell under 1-20 cm
length category. 31 Bar Jacks fell under the 21-40 cm length category, while a few were among
41-60 cm in length. 8 Black Grouper fell under the 1-20 cm category while 6 fell under the 2140 cm length category. 2 Black Groupers observed were within 41-60 cm while 11 groupers
were within 61-80 cm. School Master was the third most abundant fish species observed. 14
School Master had lengths within 1 to 20 cm while 6 had lengths within 21 to 40 cm. 1 School
Master was within 41-60 cm.
RESEARCH/MONITORING METHODOLOGIES
Invasive Lion Fish:
The invasive lion fish is a new phenomenon to Belize and other parts of the Caribbean and the
Atlantic. It is fair to say that Reef CI is the only active organization battling this invasive species
within and outside sites of the SCMR. Reef CI has been actively spearing lion fish on every dive
28 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 even when conducting other surveys. Not much is being collected scientifically about the
invasive lionfish here in Belize. There are theories of how it may arrive here in Belize but not
much data is being collected or analyzed by conservationist groups along the Belize Barrier Reef
Complex, especially the Southern Complex of the Belize Barrier Reef. Therefore, Reef CI has
been collecting certain parameters of the lion fish for the entire year of 2013 and now 2014.
Parameters include: site, date, total fish length, total body length (without tail fin), sex, eggs, and
stomach content.
As stated, lion fishes are speared on every dive using a ‘safety spear’ and ‘safety bag’. Every
lion fish encountered is speared and placed in the ‘safety bag’. The duration of spearing is
limited to the duration of the dive. Thereafter, random size selections from the different sites are
chosen and at least twenty randomly selected lionfishes are dissected weekly and the relevant
parameters recorded. The different lengths are measured in centimeters using a normal
seamstress tape. The sex is identified during the dissecting by observing the gonads of the fish.
Stomach is removed from the fish and cut open gently with a surgical scissors or surgical blade
without applying much pressure to the stomach in order to try and identify by specific specie
what the fish has eaten. Content is then recorded as observed.
Reef CI Check:
Reef CI is a member of Reef Check (http://www.reefcheck.org/), a large non-profit organization
based in Lost Angeles, California. Reef Check is dedicated to conserving tropical coral reefs and
Californian rocky shores. In 2012, Reef CI adapted the original Reef Check concept to create our
very own Reef CI Check Survey. Reef CI Check is a comprehensive assessment of the health of
patch coral reefs within and outside the SCMR. Reef CI’s Science team have modified the
indicator species observed based on the ecological and economical value and sensitivity to
anthropogenic disturbances that are specific to the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.
Reef CI Check is modified to be a simple data collection methodology designed to obtain a view
of the condition of the patch coral reefs within the SCMR. Its simple design is intentional, with
the goal of engaging recreational divers in the conservation work, ensuring a level of accuracy in
the data, and being able to compare data on key species populations and other indicators of
general reef health in various locations within and outside the SCMR and around the globe.
To this end, the data collected for the fish component are presence/absence and number of
individuals for key species only, categorized at the family level. The invertebrate component
data are presence/absence and number of individuals for key species only, recorded at the species
level. The substrates data is collected in even a broader category (see below for key) and taken
by a point-line intercept method. Furthermore, a coral impact assessment is also done on the
transect line of the Reef CI Check survey. These include coral bleaching, coral diseases, human
impacts, and percent cover of bleached/affected colonies
29 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Fish Component:
As part of the Reef CI Check, Parrotfishes (Scaridae) over 25cm are counted along the transect
line not as specific specie but as male or female parrotfish. Parrotfishes are classified as
‘grazers’ and are important in the balancing of the coral reef ecosystems. Recently, the
Government of Belize thru the Belize Fisheries Department passed into law the protection of
these ‘grazer’ fishes. Moreover, lionfish, a new non-native, invasive species of fish has been
added unto the fish component of the Reef CI check survey. Therefore, the fish component of
the survey includes these families of fishes: Butterfly fish (Chaetodontidea), Grunts/Margates
(Haemulidae), Snapper (Lutjanidae) and Parrotfish (Scaridae). The only fish include by specific
specie in the Reef CI Check survey is the Nassau Grouper (Epinephalus striatus) due to its
endangered species status. All other species of the grouper (Serranidae) family that are greater
than 30cm are recorded along the transect line as well.
Invertebrates Component:
On the transect line, certain key indicator species of invertebrates are recorded for the Reef CI
Check survey. Specific species recorded include: Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus),
Long-Spined Urchin (Diadema antillarum), Slate Pencil Urchin (Eucidaris tribuloides), Collector
Urchin/Sea Egg (Tripneustes sp.) and Flamingo Tongue (Cyphoma gibbosum). The only
invertebrate recorded by specific specie is the Caribbean spiny lobster (Palinuridea).
Substrate Component:
The intent of the Reef CI Check substrate survey is to capture any changes in the amount and
types of living coral on the reef as compared to sponges, algae, and other non-living substrates
on the patch reef being monitored. It is generally agreed upon that a healthy reef will have a high
abundance of living coral in comparison to other substrate, especially algae, which makes these
distinctions important. In addition, the Reef Check methodology specifically includes recording
recently killed coral as a different substrate type, in order to capture the ratio between living and
dead coral at a given site and any changes in that ratio.
Reef CI Check uses the point-line intercept method along four 20m transects. Each transect is
laid to maintain a relatively constant depth and topography. A plum line placed every 0.5m along
each transect determines which substrate is identified and recorded. The first substrate that the
plum line overshadows when placed on the point is the substrate recorded. To ensure that the
results are reliable, an average value is calculated from all four transects for a single site.
The abbreviations of the substrate categories recorded are as follows:
HC – Hard Coral
SC – Soft Coral
SD – Sand
RKC – Recently Killed Coral
NIA – Nutrient Indicator Algae
RB – Rubble
SP – Sponge
RC – Rock (including algae cover)
SI – Silt
OT – Other
30 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Impacts Component:
As a living organism, coral reefs are affected by natural and anthropogenic disturbances alike.
Therefore, the Reef CI Check survey includes an impact survey along the transect line. General
data being derived during the survey includes: coral damage (boat/anchor, dynamite, and any
other), trash (fish nets, general trash), Bleaching (% of coral population), Bleaching (% of
colony) and coral diseases (% of coral affected if yes).
The concept thereafter, is to choose a patch reef of high coral density and place the transect line
perpendicular to the reef. The patch reefs being surveyed by Reef CI include within and outside
the SCMR and all sites are back reef. The transect line is a continuous 100m transect that has
5m gaps to differentiate Segments along the 100m transect line. Each transect has two segments
– first transect has Segment 1 and Segment 2. The second transect has Segment 3 and Segment
4.
A buddy team then enters the water after the transect line has been laid out with one person on
each side of the line. The area to be covered is 2.5m on both sides of the transect line. The
divers dive along gracefully spending approximately 90 seconds at each 5m gap along the
transect line and record the aforementioned fishes in the different segments provided on the data
sheet.
Approximately fifteen minutes later, another buddy team enters the water similarly to those
doing fish and begins recording the aforementioned species of invertebrates provided on the data
sheet. The divers will be crisscrossing within the 2.5m area along the transect line looking for
the stated invertebrates.
Fifteen minutes later, the final buddy team enters the water to commence the substrate section of
the Reef CI Check survey. This team will focus solely on the point markings at every 0.5m
along the transect line. In this process, one diver will gently place the plum line on the point to
overshadow what falls under the line. The other diver records the aforementioned substrate
codes in the slot provided on the data sheet.
After completion of the three components, the diver that laid down the transect line re-enters the
water and do a coral impact survey along the transect line. Data collected include those
aforementioned. The diver then reels in the transect line and surface to the anchored vessel.
Queen Conch/Caribbean Spiny Lobster:
The Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) and the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) are two
key commercial species that are monitored by Reef CI inside and outside the SCMR. In the data
collection of these two very important commercial species, the Dr. Charles Acosta’s Long – term
Atoll Monitoring Protocol (LAMP) is used to collect conch/lobster size and abundance. These
31 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 data are then analyzed to show differences between the different zones in the SCMR, changes
over time inside and outside the SCMR and Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE).
The data is collected by conducting timed visual surveys along an imaginary belt transect line
along the continental shelf (lobster) or on a known reproductive site (conch) at different sites
within and outside the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve (SCMR). At each site the data collectors
count and measure each lobster and conch that is seen within a 30 minute time frame.
Parameters collected for the Caribbean Spiny lobster are: Water Temperature, Current direction,
Depth, Total length, Carapace length, Tail length, Sex and if it has Eggs. Parameters for the
Queen Conch are: Water Temperature, Current direction, Habitat, Depth, shell length, Lip
thickness, spire length, Eggs if any and tag number if the conch is tagged.
Spawning Aggregation
The SCMR has three (3) known spawning sites for the Nassau Groupers and Mutton Snappers.
However, the most popular site being monitored is the Nassau Grouper spawning site called
‘Nicholas’ due to its proximity to Nicholas Caye. The other two sites are ‘Seals Caye wall’ and
‘Rise and Fall’.
Spawning Aggregation Monitoring (SPAGs) for the Nassau groupers is conducted during the
closed season of the Nassau Grouper which is from December to March of each year during the
full moon phase. The SPAG dives normally commence three days before and eight days after
the full moon. Divers enter the water using SCUBA gears and record set parameters.
Parameters collected are: surface – sea state, air temperature, wave height, wind direction,
surface current, below – water temperature, bottom current, maximum depth, quantity of fish,
size of fish (range), behavior of fish (coloration, courting, biting, spawning, etc.). Divers dive
for thirty minutes at a depth no deeper than 110 ft. It must be noted that at least two dives are
conducted each day at the site.
Coral Watch
Divers go down in buddy pairs, one with a Coral Watch colour chart and the other with a slate
and pencil. Using the roving technique the divers simply have to match the colour of any coral
they see with one of the colors in the coral health monitoring chart, along with the species, where
possible. After the dive the information is collated, recording the matching colour codes, along
with coral type (species if possible), on the website data sheet (www.coralwatch.org).
All submitted data will be analyzed and made available on the project's website meaning that
data will be available for different regions of the world. This will make it possible to compare the
32 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 condition of many different reefs at any one point in time, as well as the condition of a single
reef over time.
Whale Shark
Whale Sharks are not resident of the SCMR. However, Reef CI joined the whale shark watch
program under ECOMAR due to the amount of sightings Reef CI encounters each year. It is
believed that the SCMR is a migratory path for the whale sharks as they migrate to one of the
largest spawning aggregation sites located within the Gladden Spit Seal Cayes Marine Reserve
(GSSCMR) here in Southern Belize.
As part of the Whale Watch Program, when a whale shark is encountered Reef CI tries to get a
photo (without flash) or as much photos as possible. The area of greatest importance is the area
just above the left pectoral fin of the whale shark. That area is classified as the ‘fingerprint’ of
the shark. Divers and snorkelers are asked to photograph and make notes about each whale
shark's individual skin pattern, size and other identifying factors. Following each sighting, divers
will be asked to submit the sighting information, data and images to an online database on
ECOMAR’s website.
All whale shark sightings are seen while travelling to or from dive sites within the SCMR. The
location is normally two to two and a half miles off the continental shelf where these graceful
sharks travel. An entire feeding cycle is the alarm for whale shark presence. Normally, the first
signs of whale sharks will be a large flock of birds hovering over an area in the open gulf feeding
on bait fish on the water surface. A closer look will enable you to see a large school of blue fin
tunas and little tunnies feeding on bait fishes in the open ocean. Just staying in the immediate
area for a little time you will observe the whale shark(s) surfacing to feed within the cycle.
Snorkelers gracefully enter the water with cameras and swim no less than forty feet alongside the
whale shark while it is feeding. It is quite an array of movements due to the presence of booby
birds, the magnificent frigate bird, laughing gulls, blue fin tunas, little tunnies, silk sharks, reef
sharks and the graceful whale shark all having a feeding frenzy on the fishes. As
aforementioned, this behavior is seasonal and Reef CI takes this opportunity to get as much
information on the whale sharks.
Commercial Species – Fin Fish
The purpose of this survey methodology is to record the abundance and approximate sizes of
typically large, commercially and / or ecologically important fishes whose presence is underrepresented in traditional belt-transect survey methodology done by Reef CI. The general
33 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 methodology is to construct a single, long transect during a rover dive encompassing the study
area and adjacent reef habitats.
The 'Roving Diver' method is used during our commercial fish survey. Divers, usually a team of
two or three, enter a site and swim for 30 minutes along the continental shelf recording the
following parameters: site, date, time in, time out, depth, water temperature, current direction,
visibility, and stated species of fish, quantity and estimated size of fish.
Divers then dive gracefully along the reef’s shelf, visually sweeping the wall and edge of the reef
for target fish species. In the case of diving along the wall, the deeper diver concentrates on
depths equal to or greater than their depth while the shallower diver concentrates on the
shallower portion of the reef down to the depth of the other diver. The deeper diver typically
leads the dive, thus remaining within easy visual contact with the shallower.
Target fishes, once recognized, are recorded as a single entry of their estimated size. If the fish is
easily in sight of the other diver or moving into the other's field of sight, signal the other diver to
inform them that the fish has been recorded. Upon termination of the dive after 30 minutes, the
dive leader signals to stop the survey.
Target species were selected for their potential to obtain large sized, commercial value, potential
indicators of fishing pressure, or ecological importance. Target species for the survey include the
following: Bar Jacks, Horse Eye Jacks, Cero, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Barracuda,
Black Margate, Mutton Snapper, Cubera Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, Schoolmaster, Dog
Snapper, Black Grouper, Nassau Grouper, Yellow Fin Grouper, Red Hind, Coney, Tiger Grouper
and Hogfish.
Marine Turtles
All marine turtle are protected under the laws of Belize. Reef CI recently began conducting a
turtle nesting survey on all cayes within and outside the SCMR that turtles nest on. Therefore,
Reef CI has adopted a turtle nesting methodology that is compatible with that of the one used by
the Belize Fisheries Department.
The turtle nesting season is believe to be from June thru October of any year. During that time,
certain species come to nest on certain cayes within the SCMR.
The Reef CI team makes an early morning stroll on all the cayes that are suspected to be cayes
that turtles nest on. Those cayes include: Lime Caye, Hunting Caye, Nicholas Caye, Frank’s
Caye, North East Caye and Tom Owen’s Caye. Whenever a suspected nest is observed, the team
tries to accomplish to see if the turtle has nested. That is done by gently poking a thin metal rod
into the area where the turtle has dug up (nest). If the rod goes smoothly into the sand, that area
is check to see if eggs are present. If there are eggs, a GPS reading of the nest is recorded.
Thereafter, a measurement (meters) is taken from the nest to the last high tide following the
crawl path the turtle used. The date is recorded and an expected day of hatching is recorded (60
days incubation period). Sixty days later, that nest is revisited to check the hatching success rate.
34 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Finance – Marine Park Fees:
Reef CI feels that it is important to support the Fisheries Department and the Sapodilla Cayes
Marine Reserve. Therefore, we collect marine park fees from our guest of $25US per person per
week.
Reef CI guests contributed $19,000BZD ($9,500.00USD) to the Fisheries Department in marine
park fees for the year of 2014.
Staff:
For any organization or business to be successful and productive, it has to have a competent
work force. Reef CI currently has a group of thirteen invaluable staff. The majority of the staffs
function at the research station and a couple stay on the mainland and work at the main office in
Punta Gorda Town.
The table below gives a list of the staff employed by Reef CI during 2014.
Polly Alford
Roland Alford
Jason Guy
Rodney Selgado
Adrienne Avila
Yolanda Makin
Mitchell Pratt
Alfonso Castro
Anna Gonzalez
Randolph Parham
Simon Watkins
Tracy Allen
Founder, Managing Director
Project Manager
Marine Biologist & Tour guide
Boat Captain
Chef
Assistant Chef
Maintenance/caretaking
Office Assistant
Housekeeping
Tour Guide
Dive Instructor
Marine scientist
Conclusion:
Reef CI continues to do monitoring at sites inside and outside the SCMR. It must be reiterated
that Reef CI is a ‘pay to participate’ Non-Governmental Organization that has maintain its
consistency in data collection within and outside the SCMR.
Reef CI will continue to implement ongoing programs, especially the invasive lion fish and will
be open to implementing new programs that will contribute to ecological and economic benefits
to stakeholders of the SCMR.
During this reporting period 2014, Reef CI completed ten (10) years of contributing to the well being of the SCMR and its stakeholders.
35 Reef Conservation International -‐ Annual Report 2014 Acknowledgment must be given to our compassionate volunteers, who have made it possible for
Reef CI to continue collect and analyze data and for the day to day operations at the research
station at the SCMR. Moreover, acknowledgment must be given to the Belize Fisheries
Department for granting us the research permit and opportunity to function out at the SCMR. To
all the other Government Agencies located out at the SCMR, all stakeholders and especially the
staff of Reef CI – Thank You!
36